Power driving mechanism for slicing machines



Jan. 28, 1930. w. RIENKS POWER DRIVING uEcHmIsr'a FOR SLICING MACHINES Filed Nov. 17-. 1927 Patented Jan. 28, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM RIENKS, OF ROTTERDAM, NETHERLANDS, ASSIGNOR TO U. S. SLICING- MA- CHINE COMPANY, OF LA FORTE, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA POWER DRIVING MECHANISM FOR SLICING MACHINES Application filed November 17, 1927, Serial No. 233,768, and in the Netherlands October 7, 1926.

This invention relates to mechanism for driving the rotary circular knives and reciprocating work supporting tables of slicing machines, and has for one of its objects the 5 provision of driving mechanism for machines of this nature which shall be of improved construction and operation.

A further object is to provide driving mechanism of the class named which will be so disposed as not to interfere with the operator in manipulation of the machine.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following description.

The invention is exemplified in the combination and arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying drawings and described in the following specification, and it is more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is an elevation of a slicing machine showing one embodiment of the present in vention applied thereto;

Figs. 2 and 3 are diagrammatic views showing other modifications of driving connections embodying the present invention.

In adapting an electric motor to drive the rotary circular knife of a slicing machine or the reciprocating parts of the machine, it is necessary to provide speed reduction gearing of some kind between the motor shaft and the driven part of the slicing machine for the reason that the speed of rotation of the motor is greater than that required for the operation of the slicing machine parts. This may be done by mounting a large gear or pulley wheel on the spindle of the slicing machine knife, but as slicing machines are commonly constructed a large wheel at this position obstructs access to the knife and otherwise interferes with the convenience of the operator in handling the slices and operating the machine. The present invention avoids this oliiiiculty by mounting the speed reduction mechanism away from the spindle of the slicing machine knife so that rotation may be transmitted to the knife from a moving part having substantially the same rate of rotation as the knife itself. This permits the use of a small pulley or sprocket wheel upon the drive shaft which does not interfere with the convenient operation of the machine.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 1, the numeral 10 designates the base of a slicing machine having a reciprocating table 11 and a rotary slicing knife 12. The table and knife are connected by the driving chain including a crank arm 13 and connecting rod 1a of the usual form. The crank arm 13 is driven from a horizontally disposed shaft 15 in the base of the slicing machine frame. A motor 16 is mounted on a bracket 17 at the rear of the base 10'and a jack shaft- 18 is journaled in a housing 19 carried on the bracket 20 which supports the knife spindle 21. A sprocket wheel 22 of relatively large diameter is secured to the shaft 18 and is driven by a chain 23 which passes Over a sprocket wheel 24 on the motor shaft. An idler 25 may be provided for holding the chain taut. The sprocket wheels 22 and 24: and the chain 23 constitute a speed reduction transmission which drives the shaft 18 at substantially the speed of rotation required for the knife 12. A sprocket wheel 26 is secured to the shaft 18 and is connected by a chain 27 with a sprocket wheel 28 on the knife spindle 21. The sprocket wheels 26 and 28 are of substantially equal diameter so that the wheel 28 need not be of large size and does not therefore obstruct the knife and interfere with the operations of the slicing machine. The chain 27 also passes over a sprocket wheel 29 secured to the shaft 15 for driving the crank 13 and reciprocating table 11.

In Fig. 2, a driving connection is shown for use where a motor with a reduction gearing is mounted in the position of the motor shown in Fig. 1. In this case the sprocket Wheel 33 is provided with a chain 36 passing over the sprocket wheel 29 on the shaft 15, and thence over the sprocket wheel 34: on the knife spindle 21. An idler 37 may be employed for keeping the chain taut. It will be understood, however, that a bolt and pulleys may be substituted for the sprocket chain and wheels.

The arrangement shown in Fig. 3 is similar to Fig. 2, except that the idler pulley 37 is omitted and the belt or chain extends directly from the pulley 33 to the pulley 34.

I claim 1. In a slicing machine, a rotary slicing knife, a gear wheel rigid with said knife, a motor, speed reduction means driven by said motor, said means having a gear wheel spaced from said first mentioned gear wheel, a reciprocatory table, a table driving gear wheel for said table, all of said gear wheels being in the same plane, and a flexible driving means connecting all of said gear Wheels.

2. In a slicing machine, a rotary slicing knife, a gear wheel rigid with said knife, a motor, a shaft between said gear wheel and motor having a large gear wheel driven by said motor, a gear rigid with said shaft and spaced from said first mentioned gear wheel, a reciprocatory table, a table driving gear wheel for said table, said first, third and fourth mentioned gear wheels being in the same plane, and a flexible driving means con meeting all of said gear wheels.

3. In a slicing machine, a rotary slicing knife, a gear wheel rigid with said knife, a motor having a motor shaft with a driving gear wheel thereon, a shaft between said knife and motor shaft having a gear rigid therewith larger than said first and second mentioned gear wheels and in the plane of said gear wheel on said motor shaft, a gear wheel rigid with said shaft spaced from said first mentioned gear wheel and positioned in the plane of said first mentioned gear wheel, a flexible driving connection between said gear wheel on said motor shaft and said large gear wheel, a reciprocatory table, a driving gear wheel for said table in the plane of said first and fourth mentioned gear wheels, and a continuous flexible driving connection connecting said driving gear wheel and said first and fourth mentioned gear wheels.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification at Rotterdam, Netherlands, this second day of November,

WILLIAM RIENKS. 

